Day: 29 January 1999

El Niño blamed for London, Ontario fish deaths

El Niño may be responsible for the death of thousands of fish in the London, Ontario region. The fish were killed during a cold spell last December and early in January. It appears that El Niño-related warm weather created ideal spawning conditions for the fish, which could not then survive the winter.

Water lilies absorb heavy metal pollution

Recent experiments have shown water lilies to be capable of absorbing large quantities of heavy metals through their leaves and roots.

GMOs pose specific challenges for the South

Regulatory decisions about GMOs require access to high quality technical information about environmental interactions. This information is costly to acquire, and most developing countries do not have adequate resources for this purpose, says a new briefing by the UK Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

CHINA: 9 of the world’s 10 most polluted cities are in China

Of the ten cities suffering worst from air pollution world-wide, nine are in China and one in India, according to a new report from the World Resources Institute.

Student finds natural POP

A PhD student in Canada has found a naturally-occurring chemical similar to PCB, that accumulates in animal tissues - to date it has been widely assumed that all bio-accumulative chemicals were man-made pollutants.

SPAIN: socialists reject water privatisation plans

Spain's main opposition party (PSOE) has said it will not co-operate with a National Hidrological plan that is based on the ruling party's desire effectively to hand over responsibility for the nation's water problems to the private sector.

France faces infringement proceedings over waste management plans

The European Commission is starting infringement proceedings against France for failure to adopt and notify waste management plans complying with three European Union (EU) Directives on waste - the Framework Waste Directive, the Hazardous Waste Directive and the Packaging Waste Directive.

Commission acts against UK over nitrates pollution

The European Commission is applying to the European Court of Justice against the UK for failing to comply with the EU Nitrates Directive.

Ireland announces record investment in water and sewerage services

The Irish Department's Water and Sewerage Services Investment Programme for 1999 (£275m), is a 50% increase on 1998 expenditure and more than double that of 1996.

Europe makes ‘significant progress’ in urban wastewater treatment

Most of Europe has made significant progress on urban wastewater treatment, according to the first report on the implementation of the Urban Waster Water Directive. Only Brussels and Milan have been unable to respect the Directive's main deadline of 31/12/1998 - they still have no wastewater treatment at all.

Russia plans international nuclear waste disposal service

Russia is planning to raise some $10 billion in hard currency by offering a world-wide service for the disposal of nuclear waste, according to a confidential document leaked to Greenpeace.

Kyoto agreement will create 1-2 million jobs in Europe

The achievement of the ambitious Kyoto agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by the 2010 will lead to a creation of additional jobs of 1-2 million by the year 2010, says EU Environment Commissioner.

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